Campaign Phone
8103098198
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Social Relations and Policy/Urban and Regional Planning from Michigan State University, Master of Public Policy Degree with a specialization in Urban Policy from University College Dublin
Experience
Joel has years of experience working in Flint to address critical challenges. Born at McLaren Hospital in Flint, he is passionate about his community. After graduating from Michigan State University, Joel worked in the Blight Elimination Division of the City of Flint. Over nearly three years he coordinated the response to more than 10,000 resident blight concerns and managed city involvement in more than 250 neighborhood cleanups. While working here Joel helped raise the rate of blight complaints being solved from 33% to more than 75%. For the last 5 years he worked at Communities First, Inc., bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in funds to Flint for new, quality housing, adding more than 150 new homes to Flint neighborhoods.
Community Involvement
Joel is deeply involved in the community. Today Joel serves as the President of Strong Towns Flint, a citywide volunteer group that advocates for a more vibrant, inclusive, accessible Flint. He also sits on the board of Flint Fresh, a nonprofit committed to connecting farmers with those in need of healthy foods. Joel has served as past president of the board of Friends of the Alley where he led the 11-person board in organizing community programming like Flint Alley Fest, ongoing beautification initiatives, and more. He also served on the board of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Downtown Flint, where he worships today. Joel is also a regular volunteer with Flint Neighborhoods United, the Levitt AMP Flint Concert Series, and more.
Campaign Message
Flint needs a city government that is focused on getting the basics right. Today, City Council spends hours in meetings where nothing gets done and council members argue back and forth about personal disagreements, all while our residents are left behind. We need a laser like focus on creating safer neighborhoods, fighting blight, providing safe, clean, affordable water, growing our local economy with good paying jobs, and working together. Only when we focus on getting these basics right can we grow our city and ensure that all of our neighborhoods have a bright future. Joel brings a decade of experience working in community development and community organizing to this work and is ready to deliver on Day 1.
Endorsements
Endorsed by: Jim Ananich, Former Michigan Senate Democratic Leader. Dylan Luna, Flint Board of Education Treasurer. Terae King Jr., Flint Board of Education Trustee. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 948. Northern Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters. Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Union, Local 2 of Michigan. Laborers' Union Local 1075. Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVAC Service Trades Local 370
Joel has more than a decade of experience in community development and community organizing. After graduating from Michigan State University, Joel worked for almost 3 years in the City of Flint's Blight Elimination Division, managing the city's response to over 10,000 blight complaints and more than 250 neighborhood cleanups. Joel spent 5 years working for Communities First, Inc. where he helped bring more than $100 million to Flint neighborhoods to restore vacant buildings and build new homes, leading to approximately 150 new homes. Beyond this work, Joel also has experience working in Philadelphia, PA and communities across Michigan to build more vibrant, safe communities.
1. Reduce crime, blight, and improve economic development. We must work with partner organizations and focus on ensuring that our neighbors have safe, clean neighborhoods and access to quality, high paying jobs.
2. Ensure that we have safe, clean, affordable water. Too many of our neighbors understandably do not trust our water system and are paying exorbitant prices. We must renegotiate our water contracts and lower costs for our residents wherever possible while ensuring the water safety.
3. End the toxic politics at City Hall and ensure that we focus on what we are elected to do - serve the residents. City Hall should not be a place for petty infighting.
I commit to being available and accessible to my neighbors at all times. The job of a public servant is to regularly attend neighborhood association meetings, block parties, church services, and more to be sure that you connect with and hear from those that you serve. To prove this, on every flyer I give out my direct number to my cell phone - (810) 309-8198. Any neighbor can call or text that number to reach me, and I encourage them to do so. I promise to represent the desire of my neighbors to see a city government that is more focused on delivering for them, and less focused on infighting.
Yes I do. The public should know that their elected representatives serve them and all elected officials should take an oath to abide by a formal ethics agreement. I would be happy to do this.
I am committed above all to being available and accessible to my neighbors. Any neighbor interested in learning more about myself or our campaign can send me a text or give me a call at (810) 309-8198.
I also commit to keeping a focus on service above self. The role of an elected official is to serve their neighbors and improve their daily quality of life. I promise to never lose sight of this and to focus on what we can do to ensure every Flintstone, no matter where they live, has a safe, welcoming community to call home.
The qualifications I bring to City council is my experience in being a City councilman from 2013/2017. I understand and well comprehend to the city charter and parliamentary procedures, including Budgetary processing.
Addressing poverty and partnerships with Flint & Genesee Economic and Alliance to usher mass production of jobs into the city of Flint Michigan.
Consistently being a professional leader with character and good principles, striving to always educate them on the necessary issues that are most concerning to them.
Yes, because it would warrant accountability. That would have to be an addendum to the charter or part of a revision of the charter.
My passion is to address poverty, the root cause issue to 90 percent of Flint, Michigan devalued and declined population, economy, tax base; and social immorality.
I am deeply invested in the needs and concerns of my community, and my qualifications come directly from years of listening, organizing, and responding to residents. I bring experience in conflict mediation, grassroots organizing, youth mentoring, policy development, grant writing, and budget preparation, supported by strong communication skills shaped through my background in acting. These skills help me translate community concerns into workable solutions, build coalitions, and manage resources responsibly. Above all, I am committed to being accessible, transparent, and accountable to the people I serve.
My priorities are to ensure residents feel heard through transparency, consistency, and follow‑through. I will work to establish a youth center with safe, structured opportunities for young people. I will support seniors and disabled residents by strengthening access to resources. I will expand housing initiatives and secure funding for essential items for unhoused residents. I will pursue grants for small business growth, create community gathering spaces, improve neighborhood safety tools, and work to improve the City Charter and Code of Ordinances for the benefit of residents while educating them.
I have seen the frustration in my community when residents feel brushed off or uninformed. With training in conflict mediation, I will operate with decorum and ensure every resident feels heard and respected. I will not join political “teams,” but work collaboratively with my colleagues while voting in alignment with the 5th Ward. I will communicate through community polls, council‑meeting engagement, monthly Community Conversations, podcasts, media partners, block clubs, and social platforms to keep residents informed, explain city processes, gather feedback, and ensure no one feels shut out of their own government.
Yes. Elected officials should take an oath to follow a formal ethics agreement because many residents feel disconnected, uninformed, and unheard. People deserve transparency about how public money is spent. Flint has lived through the consequences of government neglect—from the emergency manager era to the water crisis and confusion around federal, state, grant, ARPA, and COVID relief funds—making accountability essential. Behavior also matters; leaders should model respect, transparency, and community‑centered conduct. I will not join political “teams,” but work collaboratively while ensuring my vote reflects the 5th Ward. A formal ethics agreement gives residents a clear standard, but laws must also be created to enforce that standard and hold officials accountable. Public servants work for the people, and ethics must reflect that.
I want voters to know my heart is with my community. I am a lifelong Flint resident, Flint Central graduate, father of two, and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I have lived in the 5th Ward my entire life and understand firsthand what neglectful, mismanaged government can do. I am culturally rooted and support all people, including youth needing preparation, seniors needing protection, returning citizens, our homeless neighbors, and those facing mental‑health challenges. I believe Flint needs strong role models, meaningful policy reform, and systems that help families thrive. I am running to ensure our community is properly served.
I bring a background in business, public safety, service and community leadership. I am the owner of The Poke Bowl, a Reserve Deputy with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, a proud member of UAW Local 6000 and a UM-Flint School of Management graduate with international study experience at National Taiwan University of Education.I have served with DoorDash, Ruth Mott Foundation, the Secretary of State’s Collegiate Advisory Board and St. Mark Missionary Outreach Center. These experiences strengthened my skills in budgeting, strategy, public safety and community engagement. Most importantly, I know how to listen, build partnerships and connect people to deliver tangible results
My priorities include building productive relationships with fellow council members to advance policies that improve residents’ quality of life and put people first.I will champion an extensive public safety strategy centered on community policing, mental health, addressing the root causes of crime and treating gun violence as a public health issue.I will strengthen partnerships with organizations that expand access to good paying jobs, support small businesses,and attract long-term investment. I will also work with MSHDA, HUD and community partners to reduce blight, rehabilitate vacant properties, expand attainable housing and increase access to safe, stable homes
As a local public servant, I believe effective representation begins with listening. Because residents’ time is valuable, I am committed to meeting people where they are- whether in person, by phone, email, social media, or at community meetings. Maintaining an open-door policy and communicating openly and transparently will be top priorities. I am accessible, responsive, and honest about the challenges facing our community and the progress being made. I will welcome residents’ concerns, feedback, and ideas because the best solutions often come from those most affected. As a husband and father raising my family here, I have a personal stake in our future. As councilman, I will listen, advocate
Yes, most definitely. Ethical behavior should be a prerequisite for holding public office. Conflict-of-interest policies help ensure people do not take advantage of or receive unfair benefits from being connected or having insider knowledge. Strong policies help prevent favoritism and the misuse of public resources for personal gain. When a small group benefits from insider access or special treatment, public trust (which is already being compromised) is further eroded, and the community as a whole suffers. As elected officials, we are fiduciaries of the public trust. Our responsibility is to act in the best interests of the residents we serve, not ourselves or our associates. We’ve had enough of that in our city, and it will not happen in any office held by me
I want voters to know that I am deeply invested in Flint and believe in the people who call this city home. Individuals, small businesses, churches, block clubs, and families continue to serve, invest and build here. We aren’t leaving, we are building. As a small business owner, Reserve Deputy, UAW Local 6000 member, husband, father and community advocate,I understand our challenges and see our potential. Flint does not lack heart, talent, or resources; it needs stronger alignment, collaboration and unity. The pieces are already here. My role will be to listen first, build partnerships, bring people together for a united and thriving city. Dotson will “connect the dots” to deliver
